ALPHABET AND PHONETICS

The Eurizian alphabet, consisting of 25 signs, is identical to the Latin alphabet, with the sole addition of the J:

 

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S TU V X Y Z (capital letters);

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v x y z (lower case).

 

The pronunciation of Euriziano corresponds to the classical or 'restituta' pronunciation of Latin, which is completely different from the ecclesiastical pronunciation we learn at school.

The following table shows the pronunciation of each symbol:

For the correct pronunciation of Euriziano, the following simple rules must be kept in mind:

Only one sound always corresponds to each symbol (a grapheme always corresponds to the same phoneme only). There are no phonic diphthongs and vowels are always pronounced separately just as groups of two consonants are always pronounced separately. The only exceptions are the ph group, which is always read f, and the tch group, which is read c  with a sweet sound as ch in English  “check”.

The group sc always has a hard sound and the group ti is read as written.

The diphthongs ae and oe are pronounced as they are written (ae is read ae and oe is read oe).

The letters c and g always have guttural sounds k and gh.

In contrast to the restrictive pronunciation, v is pronounced as in Italian.

The accent always falls on the penultimate syllable.

J is a consonant.

 

Below are some pronunciation examples.

gingiva (translation: gingiva) -> pronunciation: how to read the word ginghìva

amicitia (translation: friendship) -> pronunciation: how to read the word amikitìa

caerulei (translation: azure) -> pronunciation: how to read the word kaeruléi;

magni (translation: great) -> pronunciation: how to read the word màghni ;

nescire (translation: not knowing) -> pronunciation: how to read the word neskìre.

 

The outline of the non-question affirmative sentence in Euriziano is as follows:

Subject -> Predicate -> Direct complement -> Indirect complement.

In interrogative and exclamatory sentences, complements may precede subject + verb.

 

The following rules apply:

1) The subject must always be expressed and as a rule precedes the verb (the only exceptions are for the verb in the imperative/exhortative mode and inversion is also permitted when direct speech is followed by a verb of saying and the locutor is indicated: ‘I am fine!’ said the father -> ‘ego valet optime!’ inquivit patre). Subject inversion is always used in expressions corresponding to “there is” (hic est) and “there are” (hic sunt) used in all verb tenses. Example: on the table there are many books -> super mensa hic sunt multi libros.

2) The direct complement always follows the verbal predicate directly;

3) The adjective usually immediately precedes the noun to which it refers;

4) The adverb always immediately follows or precedes the verb it refers to;

5) The personal pronoun complement always follows the verbal predicate.

 

In the case of a co-ordinating proposition introduced by et or ac , if the subject performing the action is the same as in the main sentence, the subject may be omitted.